Billy Hamilton stole the show in Reds win

Apr. 9, 2014
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The Associated Press

by John Fay, USA TODAY Sports

by John Fay, USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS - Mike Leake pitched the gem and Devin Mesoraco provided the big hits, but this was the Billy Hamilton show.

The Cincinnati Reds avoided a sweep with a tidy 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals before a crowd of 41,137 at Busch Stadium Wednesday afternoon. It was all over in two hours, 19 minutes, which is roughly two hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds longer than it took for Hamilton to get from second to home on two shallow fly balls in the fifth.

Hamilton went 3-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. He raised his average .101 points. But he was born to run and he showed what he can do in the fifth.

He led off with a single and stole second. He took third on shallow fly ball from Brandon Phillips. An out later, Jay Bruce lofted one about 40 feet on outfield grass in right. Third base coach Steve Smith gave Hamilton a challenge.

"He said, 'Let's see how fast you really are,'" Hamilton said.

Really fast.

Right fielder Jon Jay fielded the ball on the run and made an accurate throw, but Hamilton beat it easily with a slide.

"We didn't even think there'd be a chance he'd go once we saw it off the bat," Mesoraco said. "As an outfielder, I'm sure you don't expect anyone to go on that play. He may have caught them a little off guard and was able to slide in there. It was awesome. It was really fun to see. He gets everyone on the edge of their seat. He had a great day. With Billy, I think there are a lot more of those to come."

The daredevil stuff is nothing new for Hamilton. He did all the time in the minors. Hamilton led off the game with a triple, but the Reds did not get him in.

"I wouldn't say struggling but when when I was on third base guys pressed a little bit," Hamilton said. "I told them: 'I'm going to make stuff happen for you. If you get the chance, put the ball in play, I'm going to make stuff happen for you, I got your back.'"

The big day felt good for Hamilton.

"It's a big relief," he said. "I starting to be myself and get the pressure off and just play the game of baseball. These guys have been helping me through the struggles ... I didn't have a good start at all. But now I feel like I'm settling down."

The Reds have lost six straight series in St. Louis, but they have not been swept in any of them.

That looked like a real possibility after losing the first two and having Leake on the mound in the finale. Leake came into the game 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA against the Cardinals. He had allowed 12 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings against them in his last two starts.

He was brilliant Wednesday, however. He went eight shutout innings. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three. He did not allow a runner to reach second base until the seventh inning.

"He was a lot of fun to catch today," Mesoraco said.

Leake did not change his game plan, despite the recent rough outing against St. Louis.

"I think we just did a really good job today," Leake said. "Mes did a great job. I think keeping the ball down and keeping them guessing was the main thing today. They didn't seem to know what to expect."

Hamilton started the game with a triple. The Reds failed to get him in. Brandon Phillips struck out swinging, Joey Votto took a called third strike and Jay Bruce grounded out.

The Reds got it going in the fourth. Chris Heisey singled with two outs. Mesoraco hit a 93 mph fastball into the seats in left for his first of the year.

"I was looking for a fastball out over the plate," said Mesoraco, who has four hits in his two games since coming off the disabled list. "It's definitely nice to get off to a strong start. It's such a long season that you just try to keep going with your swing."

Hamilton's manufactured run in fifth made it 3-0.

Leake, meanwhile, was spinning a gem. He gave up a two-out single to Matt Holliday and then retired seven in a row. After Kolten Wong singled with one out in the fourth, Leake served up a double-play ball to Holliday. Yadier Molina singled to start the fifth, but Leake got another double play ball an out later.

Leake worked a 1-2-3 sixth. Leake only needed 72 pitches to get through six innings.

Matt Adams doubled with two outs in the seventh to become the first runner in scoring position for the Cardinals. Leake struck out Molina to leave him there.

Hamilton bunted his way on in the ninth and stole second. He scored on Phillips' single to make it 4-0.